Question

11 ic sem a masel
nation dividing and expanding: civil war, regionalism, and realism
aint i a woman?
by sojourner truth
delivered 1851
womens convention, akron, ohio
well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of
kilter. i think that twixt the negroes of the south and the women at the north, all
talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. but whats all this
here talking about?
that man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and
lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. nobody ever helps
me into carriages, or over mud - puddles, or gives me any best place! and aint i
a woman? look at me! look at my arm! i have ploughed and planted, and
gathered into barns, and no man could head me! and aint i a woman? i could
work as much and eat as much as a man — when i could get it — and bear the
lash as well! and aint i a woman? i have borne thirteen children, and seen most
all sold off to slavery, and when i cried out with my mothers grief, none but
jesus heard me! and aint i a woman?
then they talk about this thing in the head; whats this they call it? “intellect,”
someone whispers thats it, honey. whats that got to do with womens rights or
negroes rights? if my cup wont hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart,
wouldnt you be mean not to let me have my little half - measure full?
then that little man in black there, he says women cant have as much rights as
men, cause christ wasnt a woman! where did your christ come from? where
read the quotation from aint i a woman?
look at me! look at my arm! i have ploughed and planted, and gathered into
barns, and no man could head me! and aint i a woman?
why is this quotation an example of ethos?
truth is implying
that all of her
listeners have
experienced
similar pain and
can relate to her
struggle.
truth is suggesting
that listeners
should feel
sympathy for her
because she has
suffered through
extreme hardship.
truth is
demonstrating that
all women in the
us have faced the
same struggle that
she has.
truth is testifying
that women
deserve equal
rights because
they can be as
physically capable
as men.

Explanation:

Ethos is about credibility and character. In the quote, Sojourner Truth testifies to her physical capabilities (ploughing, planting, etc.), which shows her credibility and character. She is using her own experiences to argue that women (like her) are physically capable as men, thus deserving equal rights. This is an appeal to ethos as she is establishing her own credibility through her testimony.

Answer:

Truth is testifying that women deserve equal rights because they can be as physically capable as men.